At 00:16 on June 6th, 1944, glider number one landed right next to the Bénouville bridge. Two more gliders would be landing just behind it and the German defenders had no idea the British paratroopers were there. The bridge was right on the edge of the allied invasion of Normandy, it had to be captured intact and held against what they knew would be strong counterattacks. If they were to fail, the beach landings would be put at serious risk from German armour moving in from the East and the entire British 6th Airborne Division would be trapped on the other side of the Orne river, isolated from the rest of the allies.